In two years all vessels on the Baltic Sea will be obliged to use sulphur-free fuel which is much more expensive than fuel commonly used. It might result in a gigantic fuel price increase and ship owners' bankcruptcy.

The effects of the 2015 Sulphur Directive have been discussed in details by the Polish media. BSR InnoShip and its research have their share in the public discussion.

On 25 october 2012 Radio Szczecin broadcast a programme on filters for nitrogen oxides treatment whose installment will be obligatory since 2016 and which have been tested for some time by the BSR InnoShip research team.

On 13 October 2012 TVP Szczecin discussed the long-term effects of the new 2015 Sulphur Directive to be implemented by the European Union. It has a particular meaning for our region located on the Baltic Sea. Prof. Tadeusz Borkowski gave an explanation on possible ways to reduce sulphur emission and on research being conducted by the consortium of BSR InnoShip.

1 January 2015 is the date when the new EU Sulphur Directive is going to come into force. Prof. Tadeusz Borkowski explained its consequences in Gazeta Prawna (Law Daily).

The maximum sulphur content allowed in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel has been 1.0% as summer 2010 and will be lowered to just 0.1% at the beginning of 2015. In practice, this means that ships will have to start using diesel fuels in place of the heavy fuel oil they now use. As Prof. Borkowski explained, the main task of the BSR InnoShip is to look for solutions decreasing sulphur emission and one of them is to reduce speed.